Today I purchased at Electronics Boutique my PC version copy of Angel of Darkness. I have not fired it up yet.

Reading the game instructions, I see that the game controls are very similar to what we are used to (i.e., CRTL for firing guns, ALT for jumping, SPACEBAR for drawing weapons, ARROW KEYS for movement, SHIFT KEY for walking). But I hear that there are slight differences to how she moves relative to the "camera" angle you are looking at. Evidently you can use the mouse to vary the camera angle (a la Indiana Jones).

Tomb Raider serial is one of my favourite games, I didn't bought The Angel Of Darkness yet. If controls are same as in the last game I think I will not have problems with that.

_________________________The sweet smell of great sorrow lies over the landPlumes of smoke rise and merge into the leaden skyA man lies and dreams of green fields and riversBut awakes to a morning with no reason for waking

There was much hoopla in some of the other AOD Forums about how the graphics were average and the controls clunky. I don't find this at all... I like them a lot. Also, I heard complaints about slow response in certain areas (rooftop)... I found no such slowdown, although I have a very high spec machine.

The only difference I find is that Lara can jump up and grab some things (like pipes and ladders) without using the GRAB function (the CTRL key). She still needs the GRAB when she makes those long jumps and has to pull up.

I love the LOOK function which has been improved and allows you to press the LOOK key (still is the NUM 0 key) and then use the mouse to look up, down, left, and right. Nice.

For Adventure lovers, I have made it through 4 levels without a single shot being fired. It has been an exploration. I am certain that will change soon.

Nice game. Great graphics. Terrific sound. I look forward to hearing comments from other players.

I tried to play TR4 a few weeks ago, as a trip down memory lane, and gave up quickly because of the horrible load times (Run, jump, fall, reload, go make some coffee, trip to the bathroom, run jump, fall...). I guess those older games just don't run well on newer computers.

Anyway, it will be fun to play a new TR adventure, and I hope it beats the pants of that dumb Indiana Jones game with no saves (talk about yer boneheaded moves).

Just started Tomb Raider today and realized that I don't seem to have an intro. Am I being very stupid here or do other people have this? I start off in the training level in Paris, so miss out on the reason Lara is being hunted etc.

There are a lot of levels (30, although there are several sublevels in the Parisian Ghetto which bring the total to about 35). Some of them are very long and some (like the first four) are short. Level four, for example, lasts only 4 minutes as it is just a conversation and then an escape. So, I took my time, drinking in the views and playing with the controls, looking at everything on the first four levels which took about 5 hours. Lots to go! So far the game is pretty easy since I haven't had to use weapons yet. I hear it gets tougher.

Moogie, something is wrong with your installation if (after choosing NEW GAME) you don't get the opening movie of Lara talking to Von Croy. This movie is dark and a bit fuzzy and is not as good as the subsequent movies that happen between the levels (which are quite good!). If you want to see this movie (the Opening Scene) it is a file called EN_CHASE.MPG and it is in my C:\program files\eidos interactive\traod\data\fmv directory (I did the FULL install). I couldn't find it on the CDs so it must be embedded in the CABs. Don't look at the other movies since they will spoil things for you.

Thanks dadguy, I'll try that. Am having a break now as I am in a timed sequence and doing badly. I think it's a good game, but I don't find the graphics as good as the Egyptian one; maybe it's my pc, but it has been upgraded.Zanthia, yes you can save where you like except for some timed sequences.

Yes, you can save as much as you want and anywhere but during the videos. It is a bit different in that the F5 quicksave now goes into a single quicksave slot instead of popping up the save menu. I prefer the choice to quicksave as a new save or overwrite which you can do with the regular (non-quicksave) function. There is a minor annoyance because the SAVE menu always comes up with the OLDEST save file highlighted, so you have to cursor down twenty times each time to get to the most current save.

Moogie, I just discovered that there are actually TWO movies that play at the beginning. The first one is the Opening Credits and plays before you choose the NEW GAME button. It is a file called EN_CRDIT.MPG You may want to take a look at that one also (in the same directory). I have noticed that the quality of these MPGs is great when you play them from the file and reduced when you see them in the game.

Well, people, let me put my 2 cents in if I may....1st of all I am playing the PS2 version...which I am sure there is no difference.....I waited all this time for this game and I am very dissapointed....I am finding it very confusing to finding everything and just controlling Lara is the pits!....just to line her up to push a crate or just pick something off a table is awful....but I guess I will push on and grin and bear it....Paul

I have also been waiting for this game seems like forever having seen it pushed back and pushed back. It took me a long time to get started on this series. I started TR1 3 times before I could finally get past the first chapter/level or whatever you call it. Once I learned it I really enjoyed it and have played every one that came out. (more than once not unlike Syd's Dad)

I am also at the Parisian Ghetto and have mixed feelings. They said it would be darker and it is that indeed. Running, dodging and sneaking are unusual in these games but not all that bad and I think she will be back to her old self before long in the game.

So far I find controls not too different from the previous games as they always add a move or two to each game. My one complaint with the cotrols is the turning. It seemed much easier in the previous games to turn the character but maybe that's just my machine and maybe I can figure a way to tweak the controls where they are comfortable for me. If there were a timed puzzle where I had to run around corners(as in TR3 I think) I don't believe I could do it in this game.

But, so far, all in all I have no complaints.

When she starts getting into some real serious trouble I'll probably be pulling my hair out.

_________________________
You laugh because I'm differentI laugh because you're all the same